sadsacnews2013: SADSAC: Rosedale - Gormandale 15 September

What an impressive turnout for the annual run to Gormandale.
We ended up with 22 riders on the day. The route is one of our more challenging rides and this could have encouraged the riders from the Wednesday Stratford group to join us. I think they would have found the ride most worthwhile. Some of them, such as Bob and Norm, were regular riders before they found their current form. The usual extras from Tramps also added to the group. We also had a new rider in Harry, a local.
The conditions on the day were ideal with mild temperatures and light winds. The initial 20 km out through the Willung area was covered without any dramas and we propped at the start of the Willung South Road for a break. Some of the riders had already expressed a desire to cut the climb out and proceed to the lunch spot direct, in the end three chose this path. Very few of our rides allow for this.
The other nineteen chose the climb, although I suspect that not all were aware of the difficulty. The last time I went up this road the conditions were not good. The 3,500 riders on the Great Vic battled very cold and wet weather. On this day some of our riders were more likely to overheat. The group did spread out somewhat on the climb and a couple of the group had to walk towards the top. This is possibly our most difficult climb of the year. Once over the top the reward is the fast descent of Powers Hill. It was then just a short run to lunch.
Lunch at the reserve was quite pleasant with coffee and cake and good company. The run home started with a short climb from the creek followed by a easy descent to the Rosedale Road. After that it was the flat lands back to the start. There was a run out organised for the final kilometre or so into town. While the start point was easily established the end was only known to the organiser. The end result was confusion, a common outcome of such events. The group then proceeded to bulk out the local coffee shop.
One of our most successful rides.